The Stories Jesus Told
Jesus was an incredible teacher. His words, backed up by His actions, changed countless lives during His ministry on earth and have continued to do so for two millennia. His teachings, and the influence of His life, have had an unparalleled impact on humanity. Billions of people have fashioned their lives and beliefs on the words He spoke over 2,000 years ago. Those words and teachings, recorded in the Gospels, have radically changed humankind’s understanding of God and our relationship to Him. They spoke to the people of Jesus’ day and still speak to the hearts of seekers and believers today.
The life, ministry, death and resurrection of Christ formed the foundation of Christianity and its teachings, its theology. Yet Jesus didn’t teach theology as it’s taught today. He taught like a playwright or a poet. He used metaphor, simile, parable, overstatement, and dramatic action.
One of the most frequent methods Jesus used to convey His message was through telling parables. In fact, one-third of the recorded sayings of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels—that is, Matthew, Mark, and Luke—are in parables. Parables were especially effective because they were stories that engaged the listeners and drew them in. These stories were sometimes shocking or challenged the cultural and religious norms of the day. The listeners were often surprised when the story lines went in unforeseen directions and had unexpected outcomes.
Watch the introduction in full
- Introduction
- The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37
- The Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Luke 18:9–14
- The Two Debtors, Luke 7:36–50
- The Friend at Midnight and the Father's Good Gifts; Luke 11:5-8, Luke 11:9-13, Matthew 7:9-11
- The Unjust Judge, Luke 18:1–8
- The Compassionate Employer, Matthew 20:1–16
- The Rich Fool, Luke 12:13–21
- The Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 16:19–31
- The Unjust Steward, Luke 16:1–9
- The King and the Stewards, Luke 19:11–27
- The Lost and Found, Luke 15:1–10
- The Father and the Lost Sons, Luke 15:11–32
- The Seeds and the Leaven; Matthew 13:31–33, Mark 4:26–29, 30–32, Luke 13:18–21
- The Treasure and the Pearl, Matthew 13:44–46
- The Wheat and the Weeds, Matthew 13:24–43
- The Sower and the Seed (Part 1), Matthew 13:3–23
- The Sower and the Seed (Part 2), Matthew 13:3–23
- The Two Builders, Matthew 7:24–27
- The Obedient Servant, Luke 17:7–10
- The Unforgiving Servant, Matthew 18:21–35
- The Great Banquet, Luke 14:15–24
- Counting the Cost, Luke 14:25–33
- The Barren Fig Tree, Luke 13:1–9
- The Faithful and Unfaithful Servant, Matthew 24:44–51
- The Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1–13
- Children in the Marketplace, Luke 7:31–35
- The Place at the Table, Luke 14:7–11
- The Waiting Servants, Mark 13:34–37 and Luke 12:35–38
- The Sheep and the Goats, Matthew 25:31–46
- The Wicked Tenants, Luke 20:9–19